UP NEXT:Diamondbacks vs. CardinalsWhen: Wednesday at 6:40 p.m.Where: Chase Field.TV: FSAZ | Radio: 620 AM, 106.9 FM, 710 AM.Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Brandon McCarthy vs. Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn.Notable: McCarthy, making his first start with the Diamondbacks, posted a career low ERA in 2012 with Oakland but his season ended in September when a ball off the bat of Erick Aybar hit him in the head. Before the injury, McCarthy had allowed only 24 walks in 111 innings. ... Lynn emerged as a dominant starter last season, striking out 180 batters in 176 innings. He limited hitters to a .253 average and he finished the year strongly, going 5-2 in September with a 2.76 ERA. He gave up only six earned runs over his final four starts.

By Scott Bordowazcentral sportsWed Apr 3, 2013 12:45 PM

Gerardo Parra was in the lead-off spot for Arizona again on Tuesday, and he might stay there awhile.

Parra’s four hits against St. Louis in Monday’s season opener — Steve Finley is the only other player in franchise history to record four hits on Opening Day — were reflective of his comfort at the top of the lineup.

Throughout his career, Parra has been more productive batting lead-off than he has anywhere else in the order. In 225 at-bats as the No. 1 hitter, he’s hitting .310 with an on-base percentage of .366 and a slugging percentage of .483.

By comparison, in 528 bats as the No. 8 hitter, he’s batting .286 with a .349 on-base percentage and a .408 slugging percentage.

“You look over the last several years we started him at the bottom and began trickling him toward the top,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “ … He’s evolved nicely. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s able to sustain that the whole year.”

Gibson said he doesn’t have other natural candidates to bat lead-off with Adam Eaton (elbow) sidelined. Given what Parra has done there, he might not need any.

“He wants to play every day, and it’ll be hard to take him out if he keeps playing like that,” Gibson said. “If he gets four hits a night I’ll love him.”

Now batting, sort of

Pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who will start the series finale Wednesday night, has been in the major leagues since 2005. But because he’s pitched for only American League teams — Chicago White Sox, Texas, Oakland — he’s had nine career at-bats, those coming in interleague games.

(In case you’re wondering, he’s 0 for 9 with four strikeouts.)

So, when a reporter approached McCarthy and asked what he was more looking forward to Wednesday, pitching or hitting, he had to think about it for a second.

“Right now it’s pitching, but the reality is settling in that I actually have to hit in a Major League Baseball game against real pitchers, and it kind of counts,” McCarthy said.

Maybe McCarthy will duplicate what Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw did on Opening Day: a shutout and his first career homer.

“That would be it for me,” McCarthy said with a chuckle. “I’d shut it down.”

McCarthy, by the way, wasn’t amused that cameras focused on him moments after St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright was hit by a pitch on Monday. McCarthy, of course, took a vicious line drive to the head last September in a game against the Los Angeles Angels.

“I don’t know what the relationship is there. That player got hit, so I’m going to be overly reactive of it or have a tip for him?” McCarthy said. “I get why they do it, but I’d rather they didn’t because I like to pick my nose in the bullpen or dugout, and I don’t want to have my finger in my nose and look like an idiot.”

Day off

After hitting just .156 this spring with two homers and four RBIs, left fielder Jason Kubel went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored on Monday.

His reward: a spot on the bench Tuesday as Gibson started Alfredo Marte in left. As explanation, Gibson noted Kubel had been bothered by knee and ankle injuries during spring training.

“It kind of makes sense to ease him in,” Gibson said.

The Diamondbacks also know that Kubel, 30, struggled in the second half last year, hitting .201 with 15 homers and 30 RBIs after batting .293 with 15 homers and 60 RBIs before the All-Star break.

“I have to be smart with him,” Gibson said.

Short hops

The Diamondbacks have the lowest fan-cost index in baseball for the seventh straight season, according to Team Marketing Report. Arizona’s cost index, which is a measure of what it costs for a family of four for tickets, two beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking, two programs and two adult-sized hats, is $151.55.

The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce selected the Diamondbacks as one of eight local companies to receive its IMPACT Award, which celebrates the impact local companies have on the business community and economy.

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